The Story of the Crimson River

The Story of the

Crimson River
Tracing the ‘Bloodline of Redemption’ from Genesis to Revelation
Revised

Dr. Tony L. Crisp, PhD

publications

True Life Publications

A Division of True Life Concepts Ministry

The Story of the Crimson River

 Publications

A DIVISION OF TRUE LIFE CONCEPTS MINISTRY

Copyright © 2017 by Tony L. Crisp, True Life Publications.

The right of Tony L. Crisp to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act of 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior written permission, except for classroom use.
Every reasonable effort has been made to acknowledge copyright holders. The editors of TLC will be glad to receive information leading to more
complete acknowledgements in subsequent printings, and in the meantime, extend apologies for any omissions.

True Life Concepts Ministry, P. O. Box 6596, Knoxville, TN 37914

True Life Publications is an outreach and educational ministry of True Life Concepts Ministry.

For more information about True Life Concepts Ministry or to schedule a speaking engagement with Dr. Crisp, go to
www.tonycrisp.org

Library of Congress Catalog in Publication Data

Crisp, Tony L.
The Story of the Crimson River: Tracing the Bloodline of Redemption from Genesis to Revelation, Revised
ISBN
Biblical History of Israel
1. History – Old Testament 2. Bible - Archaeological evidences

Published by True Life Publications

Knoxville, Tennessee
United States of America All rights reserve

The Story of the Crimson River

 Table of Contents
Revised Edition

i Table of Contents
v Forward
vii Introduction
ix Dedication

Section 1: Introduction of Teaching Methodology

1 Building the Foundation for this Study
2 How to Understand the Bible
2 Basic Presuppositions - 2 Tim. 3:16
3 Explanation of Basic Presuppositions
7 Understanding the Bible as it is Written
9 Five Guidelines for Reading and Understanding the Bible
15 How God Speaks Through the Bible

Section 2: The Historical Framework

17 How We Got the Bible
18 Ten Time Periods
19 Twenty-one Sections from Creation to Consummation

25 Section 3: Bloodline of the Redemptive History

Luke 24:13-27; 36-48, esp. v.44
27  The Story Begins before Time: The Great God
Introduction to the Book of Genesis
Key Divisions in Genesis

29 The Garden of Eden and the Story of Adam and Eve:

 “The Fountain is opened on Earth” Genesis 3:1-21, esp.vv.21-22
Primary Characters

31 The Great Judgment and the Story of Noah and His Sons:
 “The Stream of New Beginning” Genesis 8:20-22
Primary Characters

33 The Calling and Covenant with Abraham – The Promised Place,

People, and Plan:
 “The River Runs Through a Ditch” Genesis 15:1-21
Primary Characters
35 Five Primary Covenants
36 Conditional and Unconditional Covenants
ii

39 The Miraculous Creation of a Nation: (Isaac & Jacob “Israel” are Born and
Covenant Renewed)
 “The River is Channeled” Genesis 15; 18; 21; 26:1-6; 28:10-15
Primary Characters
40 Twelve Sons/Tribes of Israel (Jacob)

43  Dipped in Blood:
The Dark Days of Death in Egypt and the Rise of the Deliverer

44 The Miraculous Delivery and Establishment of the Chosen Nation:

 “The Worship/Sacrificial System of the Chosen Nation”
44 Introduction to the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
45 The Tabernacle of Meeting
The Symbolism of the Tabernacle
47 The Names of the Tabernacle
48 The Tabernacle of Meeting Diagramed
48 The Tabernacle of Meeting Illustrated
49 The Furniture of the Tabernacle
50 The Levitical Offerings
52 The Jewish Feasts

54 The Promised Place is Conquered:

 “The River Channeled Through a Harlot”
Joshua 2:1-24, esp. vv.17-21; 6:22-25

55 The Cry for a King:

 “The River Channeled Through a Moabite Gentile: The Kinsman-
Redeemer, GO’EL” Ruth 1-4, esp. 4:1-22
Introduction to the Books of Judges and Ruth
56 Chart: The Period of the Judges

58 The Crowning of a King and the Davidic Covenant:

 “The River Runs Through the Throne: The Kingdom is Established”
2 Samuel 7:1-17
58 Introduction to the Books of 1 and 2 Samuel
59 The Period of the United Kingdom
59 Saul
60 David
62 Solomon
63 Temple Illustrations by Leen Ritmeyer
65 Temple with Specific Points of Interest Named

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 iii

66 The Period of the Divided Kingdom

Introduction of the Books of 1 and 2 Chronicles
67 Major and Minor Prophets
68 Ministries of the Prophets

69 The Period of the Single Kingdom:

 “The River Runs Through the Prophets” Isaiah 53

70  The Prophesy and Preparation for the Promised Deliverer

Introduction of the Books of Daniel, Ezekiel

72 Worship is Restored:
 “The Crimson River is Restored to Moriah”
Introduction to the Books of Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah,
Esther, and Malachi

74 God’s Preparation for the Messiah:

 “In the Fullness of Time” Galatians 4:4
75 Summary of Important Dates between the Testaments

76  Restoration to 70 AD:
Restoration to Augustus and the Birth of Jesus (Luke 2)
77 Between the Testaments: Political Developments/Glossary of Terms
82 In the Fullness of Time
90 Restoration to 70 AD
90 Introduction to the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
91 Division of the New Testament
92 Chart: New Testament Chronology and Authors
93 Matthew Outline:
95  The Lord’s Supper / Communion / Passover Feast

103  “The River Runs Through Calvary” Matthew 26

Mark Outline
106 John Outline
108 Gospel of John: Context, Miracles, Discourses

111  “The River Runs to the Throne in Heaven” Revelation 4 & 5

112 Outline of Revelation

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115 Section 4: Source Material

Bibliography Referenced
116 Ten Time Periods
116 Major World Powers
(Twenty-one Sections from Creation to Consummation)
117 Ten Time Periods and Books Written in Each
118 Structure and Division of the Old Testament
119 Introduction of the Books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch
120 Cycle of Rebellion
124 Chronology of the Old Testament: Important Personages and
Events
126 Key Old Testament Dates
126 Primary Characters and Terms in the Book of Genesis
129 Key Divisions in Genesis
130 Outline of the Old Testament History: Genesis to Malachi
135 Names of God in the Old Testament
135 Tetragrammaton
136 Introduction to the Book of Psalms
143 Prophetic Activity of the Hebrew Prophets
143 Important Rulers of Assyria, Babylon, and Persia
145 Chart: The Kingdoms, the Prophets, and their Message
146 Brief Chronology of the Temple
147 History of Modern Sectioning
148 The Meaning of the Prayer Shawl
153 Review Section1
154 Review Section 2
156 Review Section 3

158 Power Point Slide Presentation and Notes Sheets

183 Index

Credits:
Cover Image: Eric Begin
Timeline in PowerPoint styled after timeline design by Shawn Handran
Furniture of the Tabernacle Images used by permission from Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Temple Mount Drawings by Leen Ritmeyer used with permission from Ritmeyer Archaeological Design

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

Additional resources for the live presentation will be at Crimsonriver.org.

The Story of the Crimson River

 v

Forward

The notes contained in this book have been compiled from years of study and travel to God’s Holy Land,
Israel. Some of the contents are professor’s notes taken while in seminary classes at the Criswell College of
Dallas, Texas and during years of Graduate and Postgraduate studies. Many of these notes later became
parts of the Criswell Study Bible, Believers Study Bible and were most recently published as the Baptist
Study Bible by Thomas Nelson Publishing Company.

God has led Tony Crisp to assist evangelical Christians all over the world in their walk with God by
providing a historical, geographical and cultural context to the study of the Bible. He has been studying in
and about the Holy Land for more than 40 years and is considered to be a leading authority on Israel and its
history. He is currently expanding his Leadership Institute into developing curriculum for pastors and lay
leaders that will give them the tools they need to understand the Bible the way its inspired Bible writers
intended – through the lens of the Hebrew way of life, language, culture and history.

He teaches that every inspired author from Moses to the Apostle John believed that the people to whom
they were writing understood the language, culture, idioms, illustrations and overall context of the writer.
Bible students in western culture have primarily read everything through the lens of their own experience,
not that of the Bible writers; hence the need for a different approach to study.

Tony Crisp is a native Tennessean and has served as an advisor to both public and private educational
institutions across America in areas of curriculum, public relations and institutional advancement. He has
served on various committees and boards at every level of denominational life among Southern Baptists and
is recognized by his peers for his down-home humor and his Biblical approach to leadership. He is known
across the nation for his clear Bible exposition and ability to teach complex Biblical concepts and make
those more understandable to the common man. Dr. Crisp serves on the Executive Committee of the
Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Crisp also serves our national interests as a member
of the National Council of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. and is the
Strategic Initiatives Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem - USA, Inc. He is a founding
partner of the Jerusalem Media Partners and serves as President of True Life Concepts Ministry, Knoxville,
Tennessee.

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The Story of the Crimson River

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Introduction

What you hold in your hand is a compilation of years of study. This is a work in progress. This work
is gathered from classroom notes as a student at the Criswell College in Dallas, completing Graduate
studies at the University, in Postgraduate work, and completing a terminal degree. These have been
compiled from materials written over the years to help the churches served by the author and the
people who have been ministered to in America and on trips to the Middle East to better understand
God’s Word. Notes on the people, places, events, dates and timelines are all materials used while
touring and studying in Israel and other Biblical lands.

I am privileged to have sat under the teaching of W.A. Criswell, my first mentor, who was the Pastor
of the First Baptist Church of Dallas. He founded what is now the Criswell College. Criswell says
this of redemption:

“The Bible is a book of redemption. It is that or nothing at all. It is not a book of history,
science, anthropology or cosmogony. It is a book of salvation and deliverance for lost
mankind. The idea in the word ‘redemption’ is two-fold: it refers to deliverance; and it refers
to the price paid for that deliverance, a ransom. We are redeemed from the penalty of sin and
from the power of Satan and evil by the price Jesus paid on the cross for us; and we are
redeemed to a new life of love by the appropriation of that atonement for our sins.

The whole of the Bible – whether the Old Testament or the New Testament – looks to the
mighty redemptive atonement of Christ. His blood sacrifice is the ransom paid for our
deliverance. He took our sinful nature upon Himself in order that He might satisfy the
demands of the Law. His sacrifice is accepted as the payment for the debt the sinning man
owes to God, and His death is accepted as the full payment for man’s deliverance.”

The material is designed to be assimilated by the learner and then taught. PowerPoint
presentations are available and may be used to aid the teacher and the student in teaching and
comprehension. My prayer is that this will be of inestimable value to you as you study The Story of
the Crimson River.
Dr. Tony Crisp
President, True Life Concepts Ministry
Knoxville, Tennessee

The Story of the Crimson River

viii

The Story of the Crimson River

 ix

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my dear friends, Donald “Jabo” and

Tammy Francis, who over the years have enabled me to minister
as I have. They have supported me prayerfully and financially. I
could not have done what I have been able to do in the United
States and around the world in preaching the gospel and
teaching the truth of God’s Word to thousands without their
support and help.

Thank you and I love you from the depths of my heart.

The Story of the Crimson River

x

The Story of the Crimson River

 Section
1
Introduction of Teaching Material

Building the Foundation for this Study

__________


The purpose is to build both a Historical and a Theological (Redemptive) Framework in order
that the student may be able to “hang” truth, or to “flesh it out” in their minds. This method, as is
believed by the author and reinforced by studies that show this, is the way which God made the
human mind to think, reason, analyze and absorb concepts; True Life Concepts upon which
people can base their lives, teach their families and the generations to come, thereby passing on
the faith once delivered to the saints.

The 21 Historical Periods of time, nations, peoples and events are to allow students to see all of
the history (His Story) from a high altitude and then zoom in and out as the need arises to
particular periods, nations, persons or events. The Teaching Method is to teach Summarily to
Specifically from Panoramic to Particular. This will allow us to see the big picture, and then
zoom into the details. That is how the Bible is written - in Historical Narrative sections.

Using Genesis as an example of how the Divinely Inspired Story moved or passed from one
generation to another.

An example of this is Genesis 1, a general overview of the days and events of creation. The
chapter ends with the apex of God’s creation, which is Man. The chapter in the original text does
not end with Genesis 1:31, but rather with Genesis 2:3 and then a new chapter begins.
2 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology

The Book of Genesis is actually broken down into ten sections, which would have made up the
original stories as they were orally passed down through the generations. The Book of Genesis is
divided in the following manner:

The Prologue/Introduction
Genesis 1:1-2:3

1. Genesis 2:4 The History/Generations of the Heavens and Earth

2. Genesis 5:1 The History/Generations of Adam
3. Genesis 6:9 The History/Generations of Noah
4. Genesis 10:1 The History/Generations of the Sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth
5. Genesis 11:10 The History/Generations of Shem
6. Genesis 11:27 The History/Generations of Terah
7. Genesis 25:12 The History/Generations of Ishmael
8. Genesis 25:19 The History/Generations of Isaac
9. Genesis 36:1 The History/Generations of Esau, who is Edom
10. Genesis 37:2 The History/Generations of Jacob, Israel

How to Understand the Bible

Basic Presuppositions
“All Scripture The Bible is the Word of God. The Bible claims conservatively at least
is given by 2,500 references to inspiration in the Old Testament alone. 2 Timothy
3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
inspiration of
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”
God, and is teaches that the Scriptures are out of the mouth of God, literally, “God-
profitable for breathed.” This verse teaches that the Bible is profitable or
doctrine, for advantageous for:
reproof, for
1. Doctrine – Doctrine is a codified set of beliefs or belief
correction, for system.
instruction in 2. Reproof – The Bible objectively gives instruction as to when
righteousness.” and where one is wrong.
3. Correction – The Bible objectively gives instruction as to how
2 Timothy 3:16 and why to get right with God.
4. Instruction in Righteousness – The Bible gives instruction on
how to live righteously and please God.

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 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology 3

The Bible is complete in its revelation of God and its purpose,

____________________
which is showing His plan of salvation in His Son, Jesus
Christ. History is quite literally His Story! The Bible is not ____________________
complete with every historical event of when God moved in
human history or even in relation to the life and work of Jesus ____________________
Christ (John 20:30-31; 21:25). It is without error in its original
autographs. Only Scriptures are inspired – not Bible study ____________________
notes and dictionaries, teachers or preachers.
____________________
The True Life Concepts Ministries belief statement about
the Bible is: ____________________

____________________
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is
God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of ____________________
divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its
end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. ____________________
Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It
reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore ____________________
is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of
Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all ____________________
human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be
____________________
tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the
focus of divine revelation.
____________________

Scripture Reference: Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; ____________________

Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140; Isaiah
34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; ____________________
22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17;
Acts 2:16ff; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15- ____________________
17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
____________________
Explanation of the Basic Presuppositions ____________________

Everyone has presuppositions when beginning a major study. ____________________

These presuppositions should be the guiding principles that
____________________
are considered when approaching a problem or a study such as
a book of the Bible. The basic presupposition of this study is ____________________
that the Bible is the verbally inspired word of God and that it
is a perfect record of God’s truth. Furthermore the Holy Spirit ____________________
of God so prepared the human authors, inspired their minds

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4 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology
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and superintended their writing, that what they wrote down in
autographs (original writings) were, indeed, the very words of God.
The Scripture claims inspiration for itself hundreds of times
throughout the Old and New Testaments. One such claim, and
perhaps the clearest attestation of all, is found in 2 Timothy 3:16
where the Apostle Paul writes, “All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and
for instruction in righteousness.” The Greek word used here to
translate “inspired” is “theopneustos” which translated literally
means, “God-breathed.” ‘Pneustos’ is derived from the Greek word
‘Pneuma’ meaning ‘Spirit’. The Apostle Peter tells us that
“…Prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God
spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21) The
Holy Spirit so communicated to the human authors that they each one
wrote down precisely the truth which God desired to be transmitted
onto papyrus, parchment or vellum (sheepskin) to be a record of
God’s ‘breathed-out’ truth.
The Apostle said that this God-breathed scripture was “profitable,
advantageous, and helpful…”
Profitable is a rare word in the New Testament. It is only used three
times; twice in Paul’s letters to Timothy, in 1 Tim. 4:8 and here in 2
Tim. 3:16. The only other citing of this word is in the other Pastoral
Epistle of Titus 3:8. The etymology (root meaning) and the meaning
derived from “usage” of the word is consistent with being useful,
helpful or serviceable, hence coming to mean “profitable”. The
Scriptures are not “relics” of the past to be considered just as ancient
history, but on the contrary are relevant and up-to-date. The teachings
of the Bible are as helpful and profitable in our postmodern era as
they were the hour they were written. Of course the next question
would be, “How are they useful, helpful or profitable?
They are helpful for at least four things:
1. The Scriptures are profitable for “doctrine.” Doctrine is the
translation of the Greek word “didaskalia”, which is from the family
of words having at its root, “teaching”. This word, in the King James
Version of the Bible, is translated “doctrine” 19 times in the
following passages: Mt. 15:9; Mk. 7:7; Eph. 4:14; Col. 2:22; 1 Tim.
1:10; 4:1, 6, 13, 16; 5:17; 6:1, 3; 2 Tim. 3:10, 16; 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1,
The Story of the Crimson River
 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology 5

7, 10. This is a word that refers to a “set of beliefs” or a “system

of belief.” In modern parlance or language, this would be called a
“belief system.” This word, along with its Greek counterpart A person can know
“didache” used 29 times, speaks of a “set of teachings” upon that what the Bible
which the Apostles and early believers based their lives and says is true, because
ministries. The “Scriptures” are therefore profitable as a belief
it is unlike any other
system upon which any person can build their life.
‘set of teachings.’ It
The Bible is profitable for a belief system upon which one can is indeed the very
build a life. A person can know that what the Bible says is true, words of God, and
because it is unlike any other ‘set of teachings.’ It is indeed the one can be assured
very words of God, and one can be assured the foundation stands
the foundation
sure, has stood the test of time and will stand the test of eternity.
stands sure, has
2. The Scriptures are profitable for “reproof.” Reproof is a stood the test of time
fancy way of saying “telling you when and where you are and will stand the
wrong.” God’s word will accurately and consistently tell anyone
test of eternity.
where they are wrong. This assumes, of course, absolute
standards that are unchanging in relation to the mores of time and
culture. God has set absolutes in the universe and in morality.
_______________________
God tells a person when they are wrong, and He does that without
partiality. It doesn’t matter if one is poor or rich, black or white, _______________________
old or young; the truth is immutable.
_______________________
3. The Scriptures are profitable for “correction.” While
_______________________
reproof tells one plainly when and where they are wrong, it
doesn’t answer the second part of the question, “How does one _______________________
get right when they have done wrong or gone astray?” The Bible
_______________________
is profitable for this as well, which is why the term ‘correction’ is
in the text. ‘Correction’ is how God shows one how and when to _______________________
turn from a wayward path and get back on the right path, and it
even shows what path one should take. “How does one get right _______________________
with God?” The Scriptures point us in the way of faith that
_______________________
pleases God (Hebrews 11:6) and it is through the Word of God
that faith comes (Romans 10:17). Daniel, the Old Testament _______________________
prophet is a perfect example of how God usually works in the life
_______________________
of His people. Daniel being confronted with a choice that violated
his conscience before God, while in captivity in Babylon, asked ______________________
to be excused from eating “the King’s meat”; but instead be

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6 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology
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allowed to eat those things that were more in keeping with the
Biblical diet of his faith in Yahweh God (Daniel 1:8-21). Daniel
didn’t just say, “No” to something, but also “Yes” to something. God
often says, “No”, but when He does He always points to a “better”
way. The Bible is the only source for a ‘correct’ answer.
4. The Scriptures are profitable for “instruction in
righteousness.” This is God’s way of showing how to walk with
Him in obedience and fellowship. God wants each of His children to
know Him and walk in His way, because His is the only right way.
The Bible tells one how to do this. The more a believer studies
God’s word, the Bible, the more he will know God, know where he
goes astray, know how to get back on the right path and know how
to stay on the right path. No one has ever consistently grown in their
walk with God without walking in the Word of God. Being filled
with the Word of God is likened to being filled with the Spirit of
God (see Eph. 5:18-21 and compare with Col. 3:16-17). The two are
inexorably linked.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 has primary reference to the Old Testament of
course. However, we as “New Testament” believers should be just as
assured of the Divine Inspiration of the New Testament. The Lord
Jesus preauthenticated the writing of the New Testament in many
passages, nowhere more clearly stated than in John 14:25-26 where
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you while being present
with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send
in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all things that I said to you” (author’s emphasis). The
Apostle Peter enlightens us as to the view of the writings of the
Apostle Paul, putting them on par with Old Testament Scriptures
since he was not numbered with the original twelve disciples.
Consider what the Apostle Peter wrote about the Apostle Paul’s
writings, “and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is
salvation - as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the
wisdom given to him has written to you. As in all his epistles,
speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to
understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own
destruction, as they do also the rest of the scripture.” (2 Pet. 3:15-
16; author’s emphasis.)
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 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology 7

Understanding the Bible as it is Written

1. The Bible is a Jewish book – written to Jews, by Jews,

primarily for Jews.

2. Every Bible writer from Moses to John assumed/believed

that the people to whom they were writing understood the
context, culture, language, customs, idioms and illustrations
of that day.

3. The Bible is not complete in details.

John 20:30-31, 30 “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the The Bible is a
presence of His disciples, which are not written in the book; 31
Jewish book –
but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in written to Jews,
His name.” by Jews, primarily
for Jews.
John 21:24-25, 24”This is the disciple who testifies of these
things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is
true. 25And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which
if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world
itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.”

4. The Bible was not written as a movie script with editor’s

notes. For example, in reading the passage about the Passover
meal in Matt. 26, only the briefest of details are given about the
meal that night. If all these details had been included, it would
have assisted readers today to understand more of what those
events signified. (Additional explanation is included in “The
Lord’s Supper” , page 95.)

Before beginning any study, a student should understand the

pedagogy of the instructor. Without equivocation, the writer of
this material, Dr. Tony Crisp, believes the Bible is the Word of
God and it is without error. All of it. However, most of the
students working through this material, being Western in their
thinking are for the most part ignorant of the Middle Eastern
perspective and culture from which the Bible was written.
Therefore, several things must be understood about the Bible
before beginning this study of The Story of the Crimson River.

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8 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology
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The Bible is a Jewish book, it is written by Jews to Jews primarily
for Jews.
If you do not understand this you will never comprehend the Bible.
You must keep that statement in the forefront of your thinking.
The Bible is not a Western book. It is a Middle Eastern book and it
is written with the idea of assumptions. The Bible is filled with
assumptions. Understand, the Bible is the Word of God from
Genesis to Revelation, but it is incomplete in details and filled
with assumptions. In other words, every Bible writer from Moses
(Genesis) to John (Revelation) assumed that the people to whom
they were writing understood the language, culture, customs,
idioms, geography and the history of the teaching up to that time.
The writers assumed and believed that all of their audience
understood the language and understood the idioms. Idioms are an
expression that is peculiar to a culture.
Familiar idioms of the Appalachian region such as, “You are
looking at me like a calf looking at a new gate” or “You look like
a deer in headlights” for the most part, don’t make sense to
someone who has lived their entire life in, say, California. A
normal part of their daily life won’t have included calves or deer.
To them, the phrase, “You look perplexed” would be saying the
same thing. When taking people to Israel from the US, generally
the expression heard more than any other is “Ahh, now I
understand it. Now that makes sense.” Why? Because the Bible is
filled with the assumption that everybody knew the language being
spoken, the idioms that were being used as well as the geography
and the history.
For instance, the Sea of Galilee is a Western expression.
Americans think of the Black Sea or the Dead Sea, but the Sea of
Galilee is actually a fresh water lake. The word for sea in the Bible
is the word Yam. It is the same word that is used for fresh water. It
is the same word that is used for ocean. It is the same word that is
used for lake. It is the same word that is used for a pond or a tank.
No, the Jews call it Kinneret because the word kinnor is the word
for harp. If you look from above from the southern Golan plateau
you will see that the Sea of Galilee is literally a fresh water lake
that is shaped like David’s ancient harp, therefore it is called the
little harp – Kinneret. So it is called the Sea of Kinneret, or the
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 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology 9

Lake of Kinneret or the Lake of Tiberius in some of the New

Testament pas-sages. Everyone knew that in the time the ____________________
Bible was written, but because we are Western, we just take
what the translators give us. ____________________

____________________
The points in this chapter, though simple, must be thoroughly
understood, accepted, and absorbed as you continue this ____________________
study.
____________________
Guidelines for Reading and
____________________
Understanding the Bible
____________________
These are some basic guidelines one should understand to
correctly and consistently interpret the Scriptures. Five ____________________
guidelines are listed here:
____________________
1. If the plain sense makes sense – let that be the sense lest ____________________
it all becomes nonsense.
____________________
In the author’s earliest days of ministry he served on staff
with Dr. W.A. Criswell, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of ____________________
Dallas, Texas. Dr. Criswell had authored a groundbreaking
____________________
book entitled, “Why I Preach That the Bible is Literally
True.” Because of the known association with the school that ____________________
bore his name, this author was often asked, “Do you believe
the Bible is literally true?” To which he would reply, “Yes, ____________________
but the Bible does not always speak literally!” This and many
other questions like this over the years are what brought about ____________________
his preparation of this material for you.
____________________
The basic understanding of any document or text must be ____________________
based upon understanding the nature of the written material
you are studying. Questions have to be asked, “Is this a ____________________
simple narrative telling a story?” Or, “Is the material some
kind of figurative language medium being used such as ____________________
allegory, metaphor or other analogous types of speech?” This
____________________
makes a difference in how the material or text is interpreted
or understood. If you take what is clearly historical narrative ____________________
and make that an allegory, then you have done great injustice

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10 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology
____________________
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to the text and will totally misunderstand the author’s meaning. If
you are studying material that is written in some sort of analogy and
make it literal you miss altogether what could be a window of
understanding of the author’s intentions and what was meant to be
conveyed in the text. Two illustrations from the Bible will help us
bring home this first point, one reference from the Old Testament
and one from the New Testament.
The first book of the Bible is Genesis. The book is a narrative, a
historical record of the origins of the universe, earth and all created
things. It tells of the beginnings of mankind, his fall and redemption
and more. It could be called the foundational narrative of all
creation. This narrative should be read with the first principle in
mind, “If the plain sense makes sense let that be the sense, lest it all
becomes nonsense.” As you read the text, the narrative says, “In the
beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The plain sense
of that text is that “God” indeed “created the heaven and the
earth.” If the Bible says, “The evening and the morning were the
first day…second day…third day…” then in order for that to make
any sense at all one must take the plain sense of the text. Why?
Because the text was written as a historical narrative. Adam and Eve
were real people! There was a literal flood! Abraham was a real
person! There were literally covenants made and promises given!
However, the entire Bible is not historical narrative.
The Old and New Testaments are replete with instances in which the
Bible is written in something different than historical narrative. In
the Gospel of John, Jesus says, He is, “the Bread of Life.” Does this
mean that Jesus is literal bread: two parts whole wheat flour, one
part milk, two tablespoons olive oil, egg optional? No, No! He is
using a “figure of speech,” a literary device to communicate truth.
He is using analogy, or another way of speaking, to illustrate a truth
or connect a literal truth with a deeper or richer way of knowing that
truth being illustrated. In this case Jesus was referencing the
“Manna” in the desert, which the Israelites ate on their way to the
Promised Land. He was taking a literal narrative and giving it richer
meaning! As the manna in the wilderness was sufficient for the
Israelites every need physically, so He is sufficient for them,
obviously in a literal sense (the feeding of the multitudes), but more
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 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology 11

than that, He could satisfy the longing, gnawing hunger of

____________________
their souls. It was a method of speaking. If the plain sense
makes sense, let that be the sense lest it all becomes ____________________
nonsense.”
____________________
2. Always interpret a passage within the context
(Immediate, Book, Corpus, Testament, etc.). ____________________

____________________
A “text” is a “written account.” Context finds its root in the
compound of the word “together” with the word meaning to ____________________
“braid or weave.” The context of a text is everything that
weaves its way in and around the primary text. What is ____________________
“with” the text? When reading any passage either small or
large one should always consider what is being said. To ____________________
whom it is being said? Where is the location of the speaker
and the recipient of the writing? Are there any special ____________________
historical, geographical, linguistic or cultural assumptions or
predispositions? In the document being read one must
____________________
determine what was said just before the passage and after
____________________
the passage being examined. Is the passage an Old
Testament or New Testament text? The entire Bible is ____________________
inspired, but the entire Bible is not written to the same
people in the same circumstances. While each passage is ____________________
absolutely accurate, passages are different. For example
without a contextual understanding of many of the Psalms, ____________________
many would not make sense or one would lack the
background to understand the depth of the text, i.e. Psalm ____________________
51, 32, 88. The “Valley of Dry Bones” should be understood
____________________
within the historical setting of the Babylonian exile and the
promise of ingathering from the nations to be planted back ____________________
in the land never to be uprooted again. That passage without
context becomes nothing more than an extended allegory for ____________________
Gentile believers to use as an illustration for conversion to
Christ and some spiritualized teaching about the church. ____________________
While the passage may be illustrative of that reality, it is not
the primary meaning of the passage. ____________________

____________________
In the New Testament, if one does not see that the Apostle
Paul is writing to a local assembly about particular local
____________________
assembly problems at Corinth, all sorts of fanciful

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12 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology
____________________
____________________
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interpretations may arise. If one doesn’t understand the context –
that Paul was writing not to complement but condemn what was
going on in the Church – one will surely misinterpret the book’s
message. If it is not taken into consideration the context of 1 and 2
Timothy and Titus as personal letters written to younger pastors
about how to conduct themselves within the local assembly, the
letters will not make sense. If the book of Revelation is not taken as
it says it is as the capstone of God’s prophetic revelation of coming
events in history, then it will remain a veiled book instead of as it
was destined to be, an “unveiling” of future events.
3. Always interpret an unclear text/verse (one that could be
interpreted more than one way) by a clear one (one that can
only be interpreted one way).
The first question that has to be answered is, “What is meant by an
unclear text/verse? There are many verses in the Bible that can
legitimately, linguistically and grammatically be interpreted more
than one way. A clear text/verse would be one that by all accounts
can be interpreted only one way.
One notable passage in the book of Acts is a good example. At the
close of the great Pentecostal message by the Apostle Peter those
who heard the message were deeply convicted, “cut to the heart”
and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, “Men and brethren,
what shall we do? Then Peter said to them “Repent, and let every
one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins…” (Acts 2:37-38). What makes this an unclear verse is that
baptism in this verse can either be part of what brings about
“remission/forgiveness of sins” or the result of having your sins
forgiven. This hinges on one word in the text, “for” in the Greek
text, “eis” which can legitimately, linguistically and grammatically
be interpreted more than one way. This is a small word, but is the
difference between the theological view of baptismal regeneration or
through trusting in the Lord Jesus alone to save and bring about
forgiveness in one’s life.
The truth may be illustrated in two statements using the same
preposition “for” and will mean two entirely different things. If one
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 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology 13

says, “I am going to the convenience store for bread” the

____________________
person in effect is saying, “I am going to the convenience
store in order to get bread.” In that statement, the purpose
____________________
of going to the store is “in order to” get something.
However, using the same language, while at the same ____________________
convenience store that same person “Gets gas for their car”
the entire meaning of for changes. The person is in effect ____________________
“Getting gas because they have a car; not in order to get
one.” Applied to the text/verse Acts 2:38 Peter is saying ____________________
one of two things: “Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in order to receive the ____________________
remission of sins,” or, “Repent, and let every one of you be
____________________
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ because you have
received the remission of sins.” The difference is one word, ____________________
but it is the difference theologically between whether a
person is saved through faith alone or through faith and ____________________
water baptism. These two views are diametrically opposed
to each other. The question is therefore, “How does one ____________________
solve this dilemma?”
____________________
The question is answered with another question, “Is there
____________________
any place where a similar question has been asked about a
similar subject that can clearly be interpreted only one
____________________
way? The answer is, “Yes!” The verse is in the same book -
Acts 16:31, “So they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus ____________________
Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
____________________
The context is that Paul and Silas have been imprisoned for
preaching the Gospel of Christ. After singing praises in the ____________________
middle of the night and a great earthquake, the keeper of
the prison came to Paul and Silas and asked the question, ____________________
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Sound familiar? This is
____________________
the same question being asked about the same subject
matter as in Acts 2:37-38. The answer was crystal clear, ____________________
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…”
Salvation is here clearly granted because of belief and there ____________________
is not one mention of baptism. This is a clear passage.
There is only one way legitimately, linguistically and ____________________
grammatically this verse can be interpreted. Salvation is
received by trusting Jesus alone! ____________________

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14 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
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4. Always interpret an experience by the Word of God, not the
Word of God by an experience.
Interpret your experiences by or in the light of the Word of God.
Never interpret the Word of God by your experiences. For instance
the Bible says do not be unequally yoked together. That means in
context of the passage (see Guideline number two), a believer
shouldn’t marry an unbeliever. Why? Because a believer and an
unbeliever are going in two different directions. A committed
follower of Jesus should marry a follower of Jesus. Men and women
will say, “I know what the Bible says, but I feel like God is telling
me this. I feel like God spoke to me.” Simply put, God will never
tell you to do anything that is contrary to the written Word of God.
That is called confluency. He will never tell us to do anything that is
contrary to the written Word of God. So, never interpret what you
“feel” or what you “sense” or what your “leadings” subjectively are,
apart from the objective truth of the Word of God; otherwise one
can be misled. Anyone can be misled spiritually because there is
more than one spirit that is trying to lead us!
5. The Bible is a spiritual book and can only be understood by a
person who has the Holy Spirit living in their life (1 Corinthians
2:10-16).
The Holy Spirit is able to make plain what He authored in the books
of the Bible (I John 2:27). However, God may choose to use human
teachers as well as teach and give aid in understanding (example
Eph.4:11ff).
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 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology 15

How God Speaks Through the Bible

In the Bible God speaks to us in three primary ways through Scripture; principle, precept and
pattern.

1. God speaks to us in the Bible through Precept.

• A commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct.
• An injunction as to moral conduct; maxim.
• A procedural directive or rule, as for the performance of some technical operation.
• A Law.

An example of this would be any of the “Ten Commandments” or other directives in the Bible.

2. God Speaks to us in the Bible through Principles.

• A guideline or rule derived from one or more precepts.

• A fundamental, primary or general law or truth from which others are derived.

An example of this would be directing your behavior based upon the precept of not offending a
weaker brother. While not a law, it is a guiding principle in our conduct around other believers.

3. God Speaks to us in the Bible through Patterns.

• An original or model considered for or deserving of imitation.
• A combination of acts, tendencies, etc., forming a consistent or characteristic arrangement.

An example of this would be the need for weekly gathering for study and fellowship with others in
a group (see Luke 4:15ff), and the church of today meeting on the First day of the week because
that was the day of Jesus’ resurrection (celebrates resurrection/ salvation) instead of Shabbat
(which celebrates creation Ex. 20:8-11), and the “pattern” of the early believers in always meeting
on that day for remembrance and to engage in prayer, breaking of bread, Apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship.

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

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16 Introduction to the Teaching Methodology

The Story of the Crimson River

 17

The Historical Framework

Section
2

A basic understanding of when Biblical events occurred gives greater understanding to the text. Many
additional resources including an outline of Old Testament History from Genesis to Malachi are in
the Source Materials at the end of this study as reference. Twenty-one periods of history are listed in
this section to aid you in your understanding.

How We Got the Bible



In Willmington’s Bible Handbook, Dr. Harold
Willmington says, “The Bible’s unity sets it
apart from all other religious writings. While
many so-called holy books are rambling and
incoherent though perhaps claiming only one
author, the Bible speaks the same message
from beginning to end, even though it was
written by at least 40 authors over some 2,000
years.”
usage within a certain historical time frame is
important to the translators of the original text.
The New Testament was written in Greek, but
it can be considered a language of the mind.
The New Testament books cover concepts
such as justification, propitiation and more. At
the time of writing, Greek was a universal
language.

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew
except for a few segments in Aramaic. Hebrew
is a pictorial, descriptive language, rich in
metaphors and symbols not found in any other
language. It has been said it appeals more to
the heart than the mind. As is the case today,
words within the language itself “evolved”
somewhat over the centuries. Being sure to
understand the meaning of a particular word’s
As the Spirit of God moved on the authors as
stated in the introductory segment of this book,
they wrote the words of God. The 66 books
accepted as part of God’s inspired written
Word are called the “canon” of Scripture. The
word “canon” comes from the Greek word
kanon, referring to a measuring instrument.
Certain requirements had to have been met
by/within the text in order for the books to be
considered as part of the canon of Scripture.

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18 The Historical Framework

By 300 BC all Old Testament books had been
written, collected and recognized and were the
“Bible” that Jesus and the apostles knew. The
number of Hebrew and Greek Bible manuscript
fragments literally number in the thousands.
Consensus among scholars is that the Bible as
we have it today is virtually identical to the
original manuscripts. There is no other ancient
text in the world with as much verification as to
its authenticity as is the Bible.
Though the Bible does not depend on
archaeological findings as proof of its
authenticity, each spade of dirt that is
overturned continues to confirm and
corroborate the biblical record historically and
chronologically. In addition, there are at least
eight sites producing archives of tablets and
other items unearthed in other locations such as
Nineveh near Baghdad, Amarna on the east
side of the Nile River in Egypt, Hattusha in
Turkey, Nuzi in Iraq, Mari in Syria and others.
The historical timeline in which the Bible was
written, and in which the events occurred can
be seen below. Having a basic timeframe, a
“skeleton” if you will, is a great learning tool
for any student of the Bible. Here are Twenty-
one Time Periods of history to aid you in
having “pegs” to hang your Bible
understanding on. It will assist you in teaching
this to others

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,

a worker who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Ten Time Periods

I. The Primeval Period Creation – 2100 BC

II. The Patriarchal Period 2100 – 1500 BC
III. The Period of the Exodus 1500 – 1400 BC
IV. The Period of the Conquest 1400 – 1375 BC
V. The Period of the Judges 1375 – 1051 BC
VI. The Period of the United Kingdom 1051 – 931 BC
VII. The Period of the Divided Kingdom 931 – 722 BC
VIII. The Period of the Single Kingdom 722 – 586 BC
IX. The Period of Babylonian Captivity 586 – 539 BC
X. The Period of Restoration 539 – 400 BC
 The Historical Framework 19

Twenty-one Sections from Creation to Consummation

1. The Primeval Period (Genesis 1-11) Before 2100 BC

2. The Patriarchal Period (Genesis 12-50; Job) 2100 – 1500 BC

3. The Period of the Exodus (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) 1500 – 1400 BC

4. The Period of the Conquest (Joshua) 1400 – 1375 BC

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20 The Historical Framework

5. The Period of the Judges (Judges, Ruth) 1375 – 1051 BC

6. The Period of the United Kingdom (1 and 2 Samuel) 1051 – 931 BC

7. The Period of the Divided Kingdom (1 and 2 Kings; 1 and 2 Chronicles) 931 – 722 BC

8. The Period of the Single Kingdom (1 and 2 Kings; 1 and 2 Chronicles) 722 – 586 BC
 The Historical Framework 21

9. The Period of the Exile/Captivity (1 and 2 Chronicles; Daniel; Ezekiel) 586 – 539 BC

10. The Period of the Restoration (2 Chronicles; Daniel; Haggai; Zechariah; Ezra; Nehemiah;

Esther; Malachi) 539 – 400 BC

11. The Babylonian Period 612 – 539 BC

12. The Persian Period 539 – 333 BC

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22 The Historical Framework

13. The Greek Period 333 – 63 BC

14. The Roman Period 63 BC – 324 AD

15. The Byzantine Period 324 – 632 AD

16. The Early Moslem Period 632 – 1096 AD

 The Historical Framework 23

17. The Christian Crusader Period 1096 – 1291 AD

18. The Mameluke Period 1250 – 1517 AD

19. The Ottoman Turkish Period 1517 – 1917 AD

20. The British Mandate Period 1917 – 1948 AD

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24 The Historical Framework

21. The Second Restoration of the State of Israel Period 1948 – Present
 25

MANUSCRIPT
INDEX

“latter day” prophesies · 70, 122

1 5
1 and 2 Chronicles · iii, 20, 21, 66, 69, 70, 116
516 BC · 72, 126, 146
1 and 2 Kings · 20, 66, 69, 116
520 BC · 72, 126
1 and 2 Samuel · ii, 20, 58, 116
536 BC · 72
1051 – 931 BC · See Ten Time Periods
539 – 400 BC · See Ten Time Periods
1375 – 1051 BC · See Ten Time Periods
539 BC · 21, 70, 116
1400 – 1375 BC · See Ten Time Periods
586 – 535 BC · See Ten Time Periods
1500 – 1400 BC · See Ten Time Periods
586 – 539 BC · See Ten Time Periods
2 586 BC · 20, 69, 86, 116, 117, 126, 134, 145, 146
2100 – 1500 BC · See Ten Time Periods 6
3 63 BC · 22, 74, 75, 87, 116, 146
331 BC · 75, 77 7
333 BC · 21, 74, 75, 77, 86, 116
722 – 586 BC · See Ten Time Periods
4 722 BC · 20, 66, 69, 116, 117, 126, 133, 145
400 years · 36, 43, 74 9
478 BC · 72
931 – 722 BC · See Ten Time Periods

A
a man “after God’s own heart” · 58 allegory · 9, 11
Aaron · 34, 44, 128 Amarna · 18
Abel · 29, 30, 129 Amos · 67, 68, 117, 118, 123, 133, 143, 145
Abomination of Desolation · 79 analogy · 10
Abraham · i, 10, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 55, 74, 76, Antigonus · 78, 79
82, 85, 90, 103, 119, 120, 124, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 146 apocalypse · 111
Abram · 33, 34, 36, 127, 128 Apostle Paul · 4, 6, 11, 82, 89, 96
Absalom · 58, 60, 120 Aramaic · 17, 87
Acacia · 46 archaeological findings · 18
Acts · 3, 12, 13, 47, 53, 59, 61, 80, 90, 91, 92, 102, 103, Asher · 33, 41, 42, 129
123, 136, 138 Asia Minor · 77, 78, 111
Adam · i, 2, 10, 27, 29, 30, 82, 90, 126, 127, 129 assumed · 7, 8
afikomen · 98, 101 assumptions · 8, 11
agape love · 37 Assyria · iv, 66, 68, 69, 124, 125, 126, 143, 145
Ahab and Jezebel · 66, 120 atonement · See Primary Symbolism
Alexander the Great · 74, 75, 87 Augustus · iii, 76, 88, 89
Alexandria in Egypt · 77 autographs · 3,4

B
Babylon · iv, 5, 67, 69, 70, 75, 95, 113, 125, 126, 143, 144, 145, Bethlehem · 60, 80, 83, 84, 85, 89
146, 148 between the Testaments · iii
Babylonian Period · 21, 116 Between the Testaments · iii, 75, 77
Babylonians · 68, 69, 86, 125 bikkurim · 52
Badger skins · 46 Bilhah · 42
baptized · 12, 13 blowing of the trumpet · 53
Barak · 56 Boaz · 54, 55
Basic Presuppositions · i, 2, 3 British Mandate Period · 23, 116
Bathsheba · 58, 60, 62, 120 Burnt Offering · 50
belief system · 2, 5 Byzantine Period · 22, 116
Benjamin · 40, 41, 56, 59, 85, 86, 129
26

C Consummation · i, iv, 19, 108, 111, 116

context · v, 11, 12, 13, 14, 68
Cain · 29, 30, 127, 130
correction · 2, 4, 5
canon · 17, 72, 136
Correction · 2, 5
Cassia · 46
Covenant · i, ii, 33, 35, 39, 86
Chosen Nation · ii, 44
covenants · 10, 37, 44, 93
Christ as the King · 103
Creation – 2100 BC · See Ten Time Periods
Christian Crusader Period · 23, 116
crimson · 46, 47
Chronology · iii, iv, 124, 146
Criswell · v, vii, 9, 115
Cinnamon · 46
crucifixion · 53, 94, 108
circumcision · 36, 39
culture · v, 5, 7, 8, 74, 87
Cleopatra · 88
cup of judgment · 98, 101
commandment · 15, 148
cup of praise · 98, 102
commemorate · 53
cup of redemption · 98, 102
common trade language · 74
cup of sanctification · 97, 98
Communion · iii, 95, 103
customs · 7, 8
compound of ten times four · 47
cycle of rebellion · 55, 120
Conditional · i, 36, See Covenants
Cycle of Rebellion · iv, 154
conduct · 3, 12, 15, 73, 121
Cyrus the King of Persia · 70
consecrate · 53

D death angel · 44
Deborah · 56
Dan · 42, 77, 146
deity · See Primary Symbolism
Daniel · iii, 5, 21, 67, 69, 70, 72, 77, 79, 116, 117, 118,
Deuteronomy · ii, 3, 19, 44, 45, 116, 117, 118, 119,
122, 125, 126, 134, 143, 145
131, 148
David · ii, 8, 34, 35, 37, 38, 41, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62,
diligent · 18
66, 74, 76, 85, 86, 89, 90, 120, 121, 124, 126, 128, 133,
Divided Kingdom · iii, 18, 20, 66, 116, 117, 133, 145
137, 138, 142, 145, 146, 150, 151, 152
Divine completion · 47
Davidic Covenant · ii, 35, 58
Divine Inspiration · 6
Day of Atonement · 52, 53
divinely inspired · 3
Day of Pentecost · 53
doctrine · 2, 4, 15, 80, 104
Day of Trumpets · 52
Doctrine · 2, 4
Dead Sea Scrolls · 81

E
Early Moslem 184
Ecclesiastes · 117, 118, 122, 132
Edom · 2, 27, 39, 67, 123, 127, 129, 145 etymology · 4
Egypt · ii, 18, 32, 34, 40, 41, 43, 44, 53, 69, 77, 78, 88, 96, 98, Every Bible writer · 7
99, 100, 119, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 147 Exile · 21, 67, 70, 74
Elijah · 66, 67, 73, 96, 102, 120, 124, 143, 145 exodus · 98, 126
Elisha · 67, 143, 145 Exodus · ii, 3, 19, 44, 47, 85, 96, 97, 98, 100, 102, 116,
English Bible divisions · 78 117, 118, 119, 124, 131, 149, 150
Epiphanes · 75, 78, 146 Ezekiel · iii, 21, 67, 69, 70, 116, 117, 118, 122, 125, 126,
Esau · 2, 27, 39, 123, 127, 128, 129 134, 143, 145
Essenes · 81 Ezra · iii
Esther · iii, 21, 72, 73, 117, 118, 121, 134, 144
, 21, 34, 66, 72, 73, 116, 117, 118, 121, 125, 128, 134, 138, 146

F
Feast of Pentecost or Weeks · 52 flag · 151, 152
Feast of Purim · 73, 118, 121 Flax · 47
Feast of Tabernacles · 52, 53, 142 flood · 10, 27, 31, 119, 129, 130
figure of speech · 10 foundational narrative · 10
Fine linen · 46 four cups · 97
first cup · 97 fourth cup · 102
first sacrifice · 29 fragments · 18
first temple · 86 Frankincense · 46
Firstfruits · 52, 53 fullness of time · 43, 82, 85, 87
Five guidelines · 9 Fullness of Time · iii, 74, 82
Five Guidelines · i Furniture · ii, iv
Five Primary Covenants · i, 35
 27

G
Gad · 41, 42, 58, 60, 61, 120 God-breathed · 2, 4
Galatians · iii, 35, 36, 74, 82, 91, 92 God-Man · 90
Galbanum · 46 God's revelation · 3
genealogy of Jesus · 35, 54, 90 Golan plateau · 8
General Epistles · 91 Gospels · 90, 91, 108
Genesis · i, ii, i, ii, iv, 1, 2, 8, 10, 17, 19, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33, Grain Offering · 50
35, 36, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 82, 111, 115, 116, 117, 118, great nation · 36
119, 124, 126, 128, 129, 130, 156 Greek · 4, 12, 17, 18, 22, 74, 77, 78, 87, 88, 116, 118,
Gentiles · 76, 112, 145 136, 147, 150
geography · 8 Greeks · 74, 77, 80, 87, 107
Glossary of Terms · iii, 77 guideline · 15
Goat hair · 46 guiding principles · 3

H
Habakkuk · 67, 68, 117, 118, 123, 134, 143, 145 Hebrew Prophets · iv, 143
Haggadah · 96, 97 Hebron · 60, 85, 130
Haggai · iii, 21, 67, 72, 73, 116, 117, 118, 124, 125, 126, Hellenism · 80
134, 143, 145 Hellenists · 77, 80
Hallel · 101, 102 Herod · 75, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 94, 146
Haman · 72 Herodians · 81
handwriting on the wall · 70 Hezekiah · 66, 120, 122, 134, 137, 145
Hebrew · iv, v, 17, 18, 44, 46, 47, 54, 55, 58, 87, 98, 102, high priest · 50, 51, 72, 77, 78, 80
115, 118, 120, 121, 135, 136, 138, 143, 147, 149, 150 historical narrative · 9, 10
Historical Narrative · 1 How to Understand the Bible · i, 2
Hosea · 67, 68, 117, 118, 123, 133, 143, 145 human responsibility · 47
How God Speaks · i, 15

I
idioms · v, 7, 8 interpret · 9, 11, 12, 14
Illustrated · ii, 48 Interpret your experiences · 14
illustrations · v, 7, 10 Isaac · ii, 2, 27, 33, 35, 39, 119, 124, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 146
Important Rulers · iv, 143 Isaiah · iii, 3, 67, 68, 69, 70, 74, 83, 84, 116, 117, 118, 122, 123,
ingathering · 11 133, 134, 143, 145
inheritance · 33 Ishmael · 2, 27, 33, 34, 128, 129
inspiration · 2, 4 Isle of Patmos · 111
inspired · v, 3, 4, 11, 17, 77, 78 Israel · 98, 100, 102
instruction in righteousness · 2, 4, 6 Issachar · 41
Instruction in Righteousness · 2

J
Jacob · ii, 2, 27, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 74, 84, 124, 127, 128, 129, Job · 19, 33, 39, 116, 117, 118, 121, 130
130 Joel · 67, 117, 118, 123, 133, 143, 145
Jacob, Israel · 2, 27, 39 John · iii, v, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 51, 53, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 98,
Jeremiah · 67, 68, 69, 70, 84, 117, 118, 122, 125, 126, 134, 102, 103, 104, 106, 108, 109, 111, 112
143, 145 Jonah · 67, 117, 118, 123, 133, 143, 145
Jerusalem · v, 25, 26, 34, 51, 60, 66, 67, 69, 72, 73, 75, 77, 78, Joseph · 40, 41, 43, 76, 83, 85, 89, 124, 129, 130
79, 81, 83, 86, 91, 102, 105, 106, 107, 113, 120, 121, 122, 124, Joshua · ii, 3, 19, 47, 54, 72, 77, 78, 116, 117, 118, 119, 131, 132
125, 126, 128, 134, 142, 145, 146, 157 Judah · 30, 34, 40, 41, 56, 60, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 74, 83, 84,
Jesse · 55, 58, 60, 61, 85, 120, 137 85, 86, 120, 124, 125, 127, 128, 133, 145
Jesus Appears · 25 Judges · ii, 20, 35, 47, 55, 56, 85, 116, 117, 118, 120, 126, 132
Jewish book · 7, 8 Julius Caesar · 75, 79, 87
Jewish Feasts · ii, 52, 53 justification · 17

K
Key Division · 27, 29 King of the Jews · 79, 80, 83
Key Divisions in Genesis · i, iv, 129 King Uzziah · 68
Kiddush · 97 kinsman redeemer · 55
28

L
Lamentations · 67, 117, 118, 122 Levitical Offerings · ii, 45, 50, 51, 119
Land of Promise · 76 Leviticus · ii, 19, 44, 45, 47, 96, 116, 117, 118, 119, 131
language · v, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 17, 31, 74, 82, 86, 87, 88, Lord’s Supper · iii, 53, 95, 149
89, 150 Lot · 33, 59, 128
latter day · 122 Luke · i, iii, 3, 15, 25, 26, 30, 31, 41, 51, 53, 76, 84, 85,
Law of Moses and the Prophets · 26 90, 91, 92, 95, 96, 101, 102, 108, 129, 136, 146, 150
Leah · 40, 41, 42 LXX · 58, 120, 138, 147
Levi · 40

M
Maccabean Period · 79 Magi · 80, 90
Maccabee · 79, 146 Major and Minor Prophets · iii, 67
Major World Powers · iv, 116 metaphors · 17
Malachi · iii, iv, 17, 21, 67, 72, 73, 102, 116, 117, 118, 124, Micah · 67, 68, 74, 84, 117, 118, 123, 133, 134, 143, 145
130, 134, 143, 145 Miracles · iii, 108
Mamluke Period · 23 Miriamne · 80
manuscript · 18 Moabitess · 55
Mark · iii, 51, 53, 60, 79, 88, 90, 91, 92, 96, 103, 108, 151 model · 15
Mary · 76, 83, 85 Modern chapter divisions · 147
matsot · 52 Modern verse divisions · 147
Matthew · iii, 3, 35, 54, 55, 76, 83, 84, 90, 91, 92, 93, 96, 101, Mosaic covenant · 36
108, 120, 123, 150, 151 Mosaic Law · 80
matzo bread · 98 Moses · v, 7, 8, 25, 26, 27, 41, 43, 44, 45, 54, 85, 102, 119,
Melchizedek · 34, 128, 129 121, 124, 131, 137, 138, 146
Messiah · iii, 29, 74, 76, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 90, 93, 96, 97, 102, Mount Moriah · 86
103, 122, 145, 147 movie script · 7
Messianic line · 40, 41 Mt. Carmel · 66, 120
metaphor · 9 Myrrh · 46

N
Nahum · 67, 117, 118, 123, 134, 143, 145 Ninevah · 18, 145
Names of God · iv, 135 Nineveh · 67, 69, 123, 125, 145
Naphtali · 42, 56 Noah · i, 2, 27, 31, 32, 127, 128, 129
Nathan · 58, 60, 61, 62, 74, 120 Non-writing Prophets · 67
Nebuchadnezzar · 69, 70, 86, 122, 125, 126, 143, 145, 146 number of administration · 47
Nehemiah · iii, 21, 72, 73, 77, 116, 117, 118, 121, 125, 134, Numbers · ii, 19, 44, 45, 47, 116, 117, 118, 119, 131, 148,
138 149
New Testament · iii, vii, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 17, 36, 38, 53, 70, 77,
80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 91, 92, 102, 115, 122, 136, 147, 149,
150, 151

O
Obadiah · 67, 117, 118, 123, 133, 143, 145
Obedient Servant · 103, 108 118, 119, 120, 123, 124, 126, 127, 130, 135, 136, 147, 149,
object lesson · 95, 149, 151 154, 155
Octavian · 88 Onycha · 46
Oil · 46 order of service · 97
Old Testament · ii, iv, vii, 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 17, 18, 29, 30, 31, 34, Order of Service · 96
35, 53, 58, 67, 72, 76, 77, 78, 82, 85, 86, 87, 95, 111, 115, Ottoman Turkish Period · 23, 116

P
pass over that home · 44 Pax Romana · 87, 89
Passover · iii, 7, 44, 52, 53, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, Peace Offering · 50
118, 142, 149 pedagogy · 7
patriarch · 39 Pentateuch · iv, 78, 118, 119, 137
Patriarchal Period · 18, 19, 33, 39, 43, 116, 117, 130 Perfect Man · 103
pattern · 15, 97, 154 perfect number · 47
Paul and Silas · 13 Period of Babylonian Captivity · 18, 116, 134
Pauline Epistles · 91 Period of Restoration · 18, 116, 134
 29

Period of the Conquest · 18, 19, 54, 116, 117 Period of the Exodus · 18, 19, 44, 116, 117, 131
Period of the Judges · ii, 18, 20, 55, 56, 57, 116, 117, Persia · iv, 70, 72, 75, 77, 79, 125, 143, 144, 145
124, 132 Persian Period · 21, 86, 116
Period of the Restoration · 21, 72, 117
pesach · 52 Proconsuls · 88
Pharaoh. · 43, 44 Procurators · 88
Pharisees · 80, 81, 94, 105, 107, 151 profitable · 2, 4, 5, 6, 153
plagues · 44, 100, 119 Promised Land · 10, 36, 45, 54, 85, 119
plain sense · 9, 10, 11 Promised Place, People & Plan · 33
Political Developments · iii, 77 prophetic books · 68
Pompey · 75, 79, 146 Prophets · iii, iv, 25, 59, 60, 62, 67, 68, 69, 86, 118, 133,
Pontius Pilate · 89 134, 136, 145
Prayer Shawl · iv, 148, 150, 151 prophets of Baal · 66, 120
pre-authenticated · 6 propitiation · 17
precept · 15 Proto Evangelion · 82
Primary Characters · i, ii, iv, 29, 31, 33, 39, 119, 126 Proverbs · 117, 118, 121, 132
primary symbolism · 45 Psalms · iv, 3, 11, 26, 101, 117, 118, 121, 122, 128, 132, 136,
Primeval Period · 18, 19, 27, 29, 31, 116, 117, 130 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142
principle · 10, 15 Ptolemies · 78

Q Qumran · 81

R
Rachel · 40, 41, 42, 84 resurrection · 15, 53, 80, 89, 94, 103, 105, 107, 108
Rahab · 47, 54, 55, 120 Reuben · 40
Ram skin · 46 Revelation · i, ii, iii, 8, 12, 26, 70, 91, 92, 107, 111, 112, 122
Red Sea · 44, 46, 97, 98, 119 Review · iv, 153, 154, 156
Redeemer · ii, 55, 74, 76 rightly dividing · 18
rehearsal for the Law · 45, 119 Road to Emmaus · 25
remembrance · 6, 15, 44, 141, 149 Roman Period · 22, 87, 116
remnant · 72, 145 Roman roads · 89
Remnant · 67 Rome · 74, 75, 79, 80, 81, 87, 88, 89, 146
Repent · 12, 13 Rosh Hasha- nah · 52
Reproof · 2, 5 rule · 15, 76, 78
reproof, · 2, 4 Ruth · ii, 20, 55, 116, 117, 118, 120, 132
Restoration to 70 AD · iii, 76, 90

S
Sabbath · 52, 78, 93, 95, 100, 104, 141, 149 Shema · 148
Sabbatical years · 77 showbread · 60
Sacrificial System · ii, 44 silent years · 77
Sadducees · 80, 81, 94 Simeon · 40
Samaria · 68, 124, 143, 145 Sin Offering · 50
Samuel · ii, 47, 55, 58, 59, 60, 85, 117, 118, 120, 132, Sinai · 100
137, 142 Single Kingdom · iii, 18, 20, 69, 116, 117, 134, 145
Sarah · 33, 38, 39, 128 Solomon · ii, 58, 60, 62, 66, 80, 86, 107, 118, 120, 121, 122,
Satan · vii, 27, 82, 113 124, 126, 132, 133, 138, 145, 146
Saul · ii, 34, 35, 58, 59, 85, 86, 120, 124, 126, 127, 132, Solomon’s temple · 86
145, 150 Son of God. · 103
Scribes · 81, 94, 151 Source Materials · 17, 115
Sea of Galilee · 8, 151 Spices · 46
second cup · 98, 101 Stacte · 46
Second Restoration · 24, 116 State of Israel Period 1948 · 24
SEDER TABLE · 96 Stones · 46
Seed · 29, 74, 76, 82 Sukkot · 52
Senatorial Provinces · 88 superintended · 4
Septuagint · 58, 75, 78, 118, 120, 147 Sweet Calumas · 46
Seth · 29, 30, 130 symbolic · 45, 84, 95, 96, 149, 150
Shavuot · 52 Symbolism · ii, 45
shedding of blood · 29 synagogue system · 74
Shem · 2, 27, 31, 34, 128, 129 synagogues · 86, 87, 88, 89
30

T
Tabernacle · ii, iv, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 119, 131, 156 third cup · 102
Tabernacle of Meeting · ii, 45, 47, 48, 156 tithe · 34, 128
tallit · 148, 149, 152 Torah · 86, 100, 118, 119, 136, 148, 149
teaching · vii, ix, 4, 8, 11, 18, 81, 86, 88, 94, 115 transfiguration · 94, 102
Teaching Method · 1 tree of life · 27
Temple · ii, iv, 46, 53, 60, 61, 62, 66, 72, 73, 75, 77, 78, 79, Trespass Offering · 50
81, 120, 124, 125, 126, 137, 142, 145, 146, 147, 157 Tribes of Israel · ii, 40
Temple Illustrations · ii True Life Concepts Ministries · 3
Ten Commandments · 15, 85 tsitsith · 148, 149, 150
ten sections · 2 Turkey · 18, 78, 87
Ten Time Periods · i, iv, 18, 115, 116, 154 Twelve Sons · ii, 40
Terah · 2, 27, 33, 129 twelve tribes · 39, 78, 147
Tetragrammaton · iv, 135 Twenty-one Sections · i, iv, 19
the silent years · 74 two primary people · 37
The Temple · 96, 100 type of Christ · 34, 53, 128
Theodore Herzl · 151

U
unclear text · 12
Unconditional · i, 36, See Covenants
United Kingdom · ii, 18, 20, 58, 59, 85, 116, 117, 132, 145, 156
Unleavened Bread · 52

V
Valley of Dry Bones · 11
verbally inspired · 3

W
water · 98, 99
Western · 7, 8, 87
Willmington · 17
Witch of En Dor · 59
without error · 3, 7
world perfection · 47
world power · 69, 70, 74
Worship · ii, iii, 44, 72, 149

Y
Yahweh · 6, 141, 149, 150
Yom Kippur · 52, 148

Z
Zebulun · 41
Zechariah · iii, 21, 67, 72, 73, 116, 117, 118, 124, 125, 126, 134, 143, 145
Zephaniah · 67, 117, 118, 123, 134, 143, 145
Zerubbabel · 72, 86, 125, 126, 134, 145, 146
Zilpah · 41, 42
Zionist Congress · 151